About the Mint

Two commemorative coins have been issued in Russia to commemorate the foundation of the Eurasian Economic Union 21 декабря 2015 года, 14:41

Two commemorative coins have been issued in Russia to commemorate the foundation of the Eurasian Economic Union

Two commemorative coins of precious metals of the Bank of Russia dedicated to the Eurasian Economic Union were struck at the Saint-Petersburg Mint.

On the reverse of the 100-rouble gold coin, there is the emblem of the Eurasian Economic Union with an inscription around the circumference, “ЕВРАЗИЙСКИЙ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЙ СОЮЗ” (“The Eurasian Economic Union”). To depict the emblem, the artists of the Mint applied the technologies of machine matting and relief elements creating.

“The emblem of the Eurasian Economic Union is black and white in the original, but halftones are used for its representation”, said Andrey Brynza, the author of the coins sketches and an artist of the Design Center of Goznak. “To achieve the same effect on the metal, we apply various kinds of matting”.

Another technology creating a visual volume on the coin is laser engraving. A multitude of thin intersecting lines made with laser creates the effect of depth.

“The intersecting lines symbolize the connections existing between the countries – members of the Eurasian Economic Union”, explained Andrey Brynza. “The visual space created with the help of these lines on the coin is the projection of depth, the symbol of the future opening in front of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The effect of intersecting lines is used on the silver 3-rouble coin too. They also symbolize connections – cultural, historical and economic. It is a symbol of the active cultural and economic life of the countries members of the Eurasian Economic Union.

On the silver coin, the lines are the background elements. In the foreground there are the most important and recognizable buildings in the capitals of the countries. In Moscow, Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin and the Grand Kremlin Palace can be called the best-recognizable places, in Yerevan – the building of the Mesrop Mashtots Institute of Ancient Manuscripts (Matenadaran) where the ancient manuscripts are preserved, in Bishkek – the building of the State Historical Museum of the Republic of Kirgizia. In Belarus it is the building of the National Library in Minsk built in the shape of a rhombicuboctahedron. The building symbolizing Kazakhstan on the coin is the President’s residence in Astana that is called “Akorda”. Akorda is the main building of the architectural ensemble unique in its artistic meaning and dimensions that “objectifies the ideas of preserving the continuity of traditions of the Great Plain, promoting the Eurasian culture of tolerance and building a strong Kazakhstan as a part of the world civilization”.

Each of the buildings is depicted in a circle. In the circle in the center of the coin, there is the emblem of the Eurasian Economic Union surrounded by a strip divided into five parts. In each of the parts, there is a coloured national ornament of one of the countries – members of the Eurasian Economic Union.

“The ornament is a symbol of the country’s culture, and the ring is what unites them all”, said Andrey Brynza. “This artistic image narrates about the unification of the cultural traditions of the five countries, about the possibility of their contact, intersection and association. I tried my best to use the best-recognizable ornament of each of the countries. Colour printing application provided an opportunity to transmit the colour scheme of the ornament, the tincture of the country, the cultural symbols”.

Around the coin circumference, there is an inscription, “ЕВРАЗИЙСКИЙ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИЙ СОЮЗ” (“The Eurasian Economic Union”).

The peculiarity of both the gold and silver coins is that the State Coat of Arms of the Russian Federation is located on their obverse (the majority of commemorative coins have the emblem of the Bank of Russia on their obverse).

The coins were struck at the Saint-Petersburg Mint. The 3-rouble coin was made of sterling silver in the number of 3000 pieces. The coin diameter is 39 mm, the weight of the precious metal in purity is 31.1 g. The 100-rouble coin is made of pure gold in the number of 500 pieces. The diameter is 30 mm, the weight of the precious metal in purity is 15.55 g. The coins are made in “proof” quality. The Bank of Russia announced them in circulation on November 24, 2015.

By the way,

The Eurasian Economic Union is an international organization of the regional economic integration founded by the Agreement about the Eurasian Economic Union on May 29, 2014 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The Presidents of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation signed the Agreement. On December 23, 2014 the Republic of Kirgizia joined the Eurasian Economic Union, and on January 2, 2015 – the Republic of Armenia.

The Agreement about the Eurasian Economic Union became effective on January 1, 2015. The goal of founding the Eurasian Economic Union was to create conditions for the stable development of the countries – members of the Union and increasing the wealth of the citizens of the countries – members, comprehensive modernization, co-operation and competitive recovery of the national economies.

The rhombicuboctahedron is a semiregular polyhedron, the facets of which are 18 squares and 8 triangles. The polyhedron astounds with its cubic shape. It seems to consist of squares. The rare droplets of triangles smooth the forthright cubism of the model.

Multiple squares seem to determine the easiness of application of this model in architecture. The building of the National Library of Belarus represents a rhombicuboctahedron with the height of 73.6 m (23 floors) and the weight of 115 000 tons (without the books). It is constantly mentioned in ratings of the most unusual buildings of the world.